I did the cinque terre tour with Guide Roberto and Anna with bus transfer to and from Florence.
The meeting point is a bit out way, solid 10 minute walk from the SMN station but can be reached via taxi from your hotel, cost me around 10 euro one way. We were taken to La spezia " the main station" by 2 hour bus rise.
The Scenic beauty of cinque terre is unparalleled and if you want to enjoy these views within 12 hours, then this tour is perfect. We did not do one of the towns out of 5, as explained by the Guide this town was not easily accessible. We also did not do the boat ride despite good weather.
We spent around 2 hours in Montresso , longest than any other. The shortest was in Riomaggiore - just 45 minutes. The transfer between towns is by 2-7 min train.
I definitely would have liked to explore these areas more but given the time frame it was a good beginner's experience. I did not book lunch with the tour and found no problem finding quick snacks ( there wasn't time for much).
Roberto , spoke English and was very helpful and cheerful unlike many other tour guides particularly after a long day. He was helpful with any queries and ready to share his experiences. Anna was also quite amenable.